CJP protests: CMs among 7,000 protesters detained

On October 10, India's capital witnessed a significant security operation as police detained demonstrators, activists and opposition figures during protests calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstrations were sparked by allegations of a controversial voter-list revision, a claim addressed by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led social movement.

The party's founder, Abhijeet Dipke, and two senior leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were reportedly detained upon their arrival in Delhi from Mumbai. The CJP has named Ajinkya Shinde as their new leader to maintain momentum while their key figures are in custody. Shinde has urged supporters to continue their protest march towards Jantar Mantar, cautioning that any police intervention could become a new protest hub.

Beyond the CJP, opposition leaders and other activists were also detained during separate demonstrations. Security measures in Delhi were heightened, with thousands of police personnel deployed, 46 Metro stations closed, and mobile internet services reportedly suspended near the protest zones. Conflicting reports emerged regarding the number of people detained, with Delhi Police estimating around 1,000 and CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde claiming over 15,000.

Additionally, former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi's former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Kerala's former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan were among opposition figures detained.